TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Police deployed 1,000 personnel to conduct an independent regional operation in a bid to hunt down street motorcycle thieves or known as begal, including robber in the capital city. This joint operation was in line with simultaneous operations which aimed at catching muggers and bandits across Jakarta areas.

“1,000 personnel consist of Jakarta Police and its Resort Police,” said Jakarta Police spokesperson Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono in a written statement on late Tuesday, July 3.

The independent regional operation was started on late Tuesday, July 3. Argo said the operation also aimed at anticipating street violence prior to 2018 Asian Games in August.

Argo stated the police formed 16 teams for the operation, 13 teams from the Police Resort and 3 teams from Jakarta Police. Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Idham Azis earlier instructed the police to shoot robbers and muggers resisting arrest.

“Jakarta Police Chief instructs to shoot [street criminal] if they resist the arrest,” Argo asserted.

Argo went on to say that the operation was conducted in the wake of multiple cases of robbery and motorcycle thieves in Jakarta and surrounding areas. The recent case occurred in Cempaka Putih, West Jakarta last Sunday. The victim was a female passenger of a motorcycle taxi named Warsilah (37).

Earlier reports suggest two cases of street bandits had previously involved a biker named Robertus Soutwell Bougie Hartono and Director General of Public Works and Housing.

LANI DIANA WIJAYA